Extendible clasp or connecting device for straps, bands, and bracelets



J1me 3 c. H. KESTENMAN 2,004,206

AND BRACELETS EXTENDIBLE CLASP OR CONNECTING DEVICE FOR STRAPS, BANDS,

Filed Feb. 20, 1932 llmlil Patented June 11, 1935 UNITED STATES EXTENDIBLE CLASP B, CONNECTING DE- VICE FOR STRAPS,

LETS

BANDS, AND BRACE- Charles H. Kestenman, Providence, B. 1., aasign or to Kestenman Bros. Mfg. 00., Providence, B. L, a corporation of Rhode Island Application February 20,1932, SeriaiNo. 594,285

This invention relates to buckles, clasps and like devices for securing the ends of wrist-watch straps, bands, bracelets and similar articles and more particularly to improvements in devices of the type specified whereby to provide means for minutely adjusting the length of the connection or clasping device to tighten or loosen the strap while upon the wrist of thewearer.

One obiectof the invention is to provide an extendible fastening device on the strap, band or bracelet which, after the latter has been positioned upon the wrist, may be clasped or folded in closed relationship and thereafter further ad- .iusted to tighten or loosen the strap.

A further object of the invention is to provide in the specified type of extendible fastening device means whereby the strap-connecting element thereof may be moved to shorten or lengthen the strap without disturbing or affecting its clasped or folded condition.

A further object of the invention is to provide in a folding extendible fastening device a lcngitudinal sliding connection between two or more of the structural elements thereof and means operable exteriorly of the same for relatively adjusting such connection. i

A further object of the invention is to provide a device of the type specified comprising a minimum. number of parts adapted for economical manufacture from sheet-metal and convenient assembling without the use of colder, screws, rivets or other extraneous parts.

Another object of the invention is to provide a device of the type specified which is neat and ornamental in appearance and proof against derangement or getting out of order in use.

Further objects of the invention are set forth .-in the following specification which describes a preferred embodiment of the invention, by way of example, as illustrated by the accompanyingdrawing. In the drawing: 1

Fig. l is a perspective view of the present improved clasping device showing it as applied to use for connecting the ends of a conventional form of bracelet attached to a wristwatch;

Fig. 2 is an enlarged side elevational view of the clasping device showingthe parts in closed relationship;

Fig. 3 is a similar view illustrating the manner in which the parts are unclasped and unfolded to extend the length of the bracelet;

' Fig. 4 is a top plan view of the parts shown in Fig. 3, a section of one part thereof being broken away to better illustrate a portion of the present improved adjusting element;

Fig.5 is a longitudinal sectional view through the clasping device illustrating the manner in which the several foldable parts correlate in partially unclasped condition;

Fig. 6 is a bottom plan view of the slidable, ad- Justable parts ofthe present improved clasping device; a

Fig. 7 is a fragmentary longitudinal sectional view through the clasping device taken on line 'i-I of Fig. 2; and I Fig. 8 is a transverse sectional view of the device in enlarged scale taken on line 8-8 of Fig. 1.

The present improved device comprises, in general, a series of cooperating members which are hingedly connected at their ends to adapt them to be folded into closed relationshi one over the other, or to be opened out into extended position to lengthen the strap, band or bracelet which has its ends connected thereto. The opposite sections of the strap, band or bracelet are pivotally attached to the free ends of the device so that when the parts thereof are folded into overlying relationship the strap or the like will be drawntight around the wrist; and when the folding elements are opened out the bracelet will be lengthened to a considerable extent to adapt it to slip over the hand of the wearer. The present improvement relates particularly to manuallyslidable means embodied in the foldable clasping device and adapted to be operated at will to provide a better fit of the bracelet on the wrist.

Referring to the drawing, 2 designates a conventional type of wrist-watch having oppositely disposed balls 3* on its sides to which the ends of a strap or bracelet are attached to accommodate the -same for fitting the wrist of awearer. In the present showing, the strap or bracelet consists of a conventional type of, articulated chain in two parts I and I having one end of each connected by links 0 to the bails 3. The opposite ends I of the bracelet or strap parts I and 5 are connected in a well-known manner to a fastening or clasping device which, in the present embodiment of the invention, is of the extendible variety. The nature of the construction of the bracelet or the use to which the same may be put is immaterial in so far as this invention is concerned. For example, the bracelet may consist of a strap of reticulated fabric, metal wire mesh or leather having means at its ends for attachment to the clasping device. The term "strap is therefore herein employed to generically designate any form of band or bracelet.

'I'heclasping device may comprise a base element or member ill, a top element or cover member I l and a plurality of connecting members for extendibly connecting the base and cover members together. The particular construction of the extension members or the mode of attaching the cover and base members to the ends 1 of the strap is of no moment to this invention and accordingly will be only briefly described. One form of the.

various structural elements is fully shown and described in my copending application, Serial No. 556,516 flied August 12, 1931, now Patent No. 1,892,060 granted December 27,1932. 7

As shown in the accompanying drawing one of the strap ends I is hingedly connected at l2 to a sliding element ll carried by a folding link member H which, in turn, is hinged by pintles II to one end of the base member It. This particular link I4 is individual to the subject-matter of my aforesaid copending application and, if desired, may be eliminated by connecting one end of the strap directly to the end of the base member by means of suitable pivots similar to the pintles II. The other end of the base member ill is hingedly connected at ii to one end of a connecting member or link ll, which latter member is in turn hinged at its opposite end at I8 to a part upon the cover member II. The other. end 'I of the strap may be connected to the cover H as by a hinge pin l 9. With the above described arrangement of parts the strap ends are connected through the medium of the clasping device and the latter may be extended to lengthen the strap to facilitate the slipping of the bracelet'over the hand of the wearer. I

Each of the members forming a part of the clasping device may be constructed of thin sheetmetal and curved, as shown, to conform to the wearer's wrist. The base member II is constituted by an elongated rectangular metal plate having flanges 20 folded up along its longitudinal edges which strengthen the structure thereof. and provide anchors for the pintles II and H. The flanges 20 may be cut away at 2| to provide cleararms for the sliding element II when the link It is folded against the base member.

The top or cover member ll may also be constructed from a rectangular strip of metal and have depending flanges 22 along its longitudinal edges. The space between the flanges 20 of the base member accommodates the width of the links it and I1 and, similarly, the space between flanges 22 is of suflicient width to receive the base member therein. When folded into overlying relationship the several parts nest closely together, the links it and i1 and the base member being all confined between the side flanges 22 of the cover member Ii, thus presenting a substantially thin structure which is highly desirable for wristwatch clasping devices.

Means are provided for holding the extendible elements of the 'clasp'in closed relationship so as to prevent their accidental separation when upon the wrist of the-wearer. As herein illustrated a detent opening 23 in one or both of the base flanges 20 is adapted to be engaged by a pro:- iection 24 at the inner side of one or both of the side flanges 22 of the cover member II. In the present embodiment of the invention the proiection 24, instead of being formed upon the cover flanges 22, isformed as a part of a sliding member 25 which is telescopically engaged or carried by the cover in the manner and'for the purpose as later described. Means hereinafter more fully described are provided by which the wearer may engage with a finger-nail a part upon the cover to effect the opening of the clasp to permit removal of the strap from the wrist.

Thus far the described construction and function of the foldable elements III, H, H and 11 are in accord with the device shown in the application for patent hereinbefore noted and suffice it to say that a clasping device of thistype permits the lengthening of the strap of a wrist-watch to adapt the same to be slipped over the hand of the wearer without requiring the disconnection thereof of one or both of the ends of the strap. The folding elements of previously used extendible clasping devices are, however, relatively fixed when in closed arrangement and the over-all length thereof, that is the distance between the points of connection of the strap ends, is of predetermined dimension. strap to flt wrists varying in size it is customary toremove links from or add others to the strap sections 4 and B. This adjustment obviously is limited by the character, shape and size of such links and it is not uncommon, in order to obtain the proper length of strap, to unbalance the number of links in the two sections 4 and I which results in an unsymmetrical appearance. Moreover, when once adjusted the length of thestrap and clasping device is fixed and may not be varied except by a skilled workman. It has therefore been found desirable and of advantage in the use of wrist-watch straps or other bracelet devices to provide an adjustment by which the length of the strap may be varied within certain limits without change in the assembly of the strap links or in the clasping device.

The general object of the present invention is to provide, in connection with clasping devices of the specified or like character, an improved construction and arrangement of the parts thereof which permit relative longitudinal adjustment of two or more of the elements to produce a variation in the distance between the attached ends of the strap. It is also desirable in devices of this kind to preserve the ornamental appearance of the strap and avoid the presence of sharp edges, projecting parts or protuberances adapted to catch in the clothing or chafe the skin of the wearer.

In the illustrated embodiment of the present invention there is provided between the cover member H and the inner end of the connecting link H the sliding member 25, previously referred to, which is formed of a rectangular shape with spaced side walls or flanges 26. The member 25 is dimensioned to flt the bottom side of the cover member ll within the inner faces of the flanges'22 and to be telescopically or slidably mounted therein. To prevent lateral displacement of the member 25 with respect to the cover Ii, the extremities or outer edges of the flanges 22 are inturned to provide opposed overhanging bottom flanges 21, see Fig. 5. As shown most clearly in Fig. 8 of the drawing, these flanges 21 overhang theouter edges of both the walls 26, it being also noted that the flanges 21 do not extend inwardly to an extent to prevent the nesting of the bottom I0 and links H and I1 within the cover member I I.

In the present form of construction the pintle l8 which connects the outer end of the link H to the cover ii is carried by the sliding member 25. Accordingly, the relationship between the link H, the base member i0 pivoted to its other end and the strap-connecting elements i2, i3

and H is at all times constant irrespective of the position of the sliding member 25 in the Hence, to adiust the cover ll. Wherefore, it will be observed that if the sliding member be moved longitudinally of the cover II, the distance between the strap ends 1, one of which is connected to the base and the other to the cover II at i9, will be varied accordingly. It has been stated that'the sliding member 25 is capable only of telescopic movement in its mounting in the cover Ii and,

i to provide means for adjusting the longitudinal relationship of the cover member I I and the sliding member 25,and to so construct the adjusting means that the same may be operated without disturbing the clasped condition of the foldable parts thereof. It is found to be of advantage both as to the appearance of the device and, for facility of operation to construct the aforesaid adjusting means to be manually accessible at the sides of the cover I i Referring to the drawing, the cover II is shownas having one or both of its side flanges 22 provided with an elongated slot adjacent the bottom ll of the cover top. The lowermost edges. 32 of the elongated slots 30 are provided with a series of projections or rack teeth 22 which serve, as will presently appear, to cooperate with a part or parts on the sliding member 25 to lock the same in adjusted position. 0b-

' viously, the extent of the slot Ill and the number of the teeth 23 is optional and dependent upon the required amount of adjustment.

The inner end 34 of the sliding member 25 is provided on the outer surfaces. of its side walls 28 with means adapted to engage with-the raclr' teeth 33. In a preferred form the engaging means consists of a detent projection I! struck outward- -ly from the side wall 26 and at the proper distance midway thereof to be in'the path of teeth 33. The exterior surface of this detent projection 35, as best shown in Fig. 7, is tapered from one end to the other to permit a free sliding movement thereof in one direction only. In order to provide for the depression orinward movement of the detent 35, the adjacent portion of the side wall 26 is relieved by a vertical cut 31 which extends from a point forwardly of the detent 35 entirely through the wall 28 .and inwardly of the top of the sliding member and then rearwardly thereof in the curved slit 38. The slit provides a resilient arm 39 at each side of the member 25 with the detent 35 projecting outwardly from the vertical wall or flange 26 thereof. Forwardly of the detent 35 the flange 28 is provided with a lateral or horizontal lug 40 which projects through the slot 30 in the side flange of the cover member H. A finger-piece 4| is formed at the outer end of the lug 4|! by bending the metal thereof at right-angles as shown. The member 25 also has a curled lip or finger-piece 43 at its end under which the finger-nail may be inserted to 'open the clasp.

From the foregoing it will be apparent that the sliding member 25 which is telescopically arranged on the underside of the cover member H may be latched or locked in adjusted position with respect thereto by the engagement of the detent projection 35 with the rack teeth 33. To permit 33 in the manner of a ratchet.

It; will be observed by reference to the drawing that the parallel sides of the cover i I, the sliding member 25 and the base member ill arefltted to contact with one another when in folded or nested position, thus to provide a neat and compact clasp. The sides or flanges 20 of the base member ID are cut away at 42 to permit the movable sections or arms 39 and their detents 35 to be pressedinwardly while the base is in closed or clasped position.

The construction and arrangement of the several parts of the improved clasping device and its mode of operation are extremely simple as will be apparent from an understanding of theforegoing description. In applying the device to use the outer ends of the strap or bracelet are attaohed to the balls of a wrist-watch and the inner ends I thereof connected to the hinge pins [2 and I! of the clasp. To place the bracelet upon the wrist the base member ID with its extendible connections i4 and I! are unclasped from the cover member I I by inserting a finger-nail under the lip or projection 43 at the outer end of the i sliding member 25. While the several parts of the improved clasping device are securely held from displacement by means of the detent projections 24 engaged with the openings 23 in the side of the base member, it is a comparatively easy matter to pry the cover member II upwardly as described'to unfold the extendible connections.

When a bracelet embodying the present improved device is being first fitted to an individuals wrist the slide '25 may be drawn outwardly from the cover member H either partially or to the full extent of its sliding connection therewith. To clasp the bracelet around the wrist the member i8. isflrst slid along the link l4 to a point adjacent the pivotal point l5 and the link is then folded into the-space between the flanges 2| of the base member H). The two members l0 and H are next folded over the extension link H and finally nested in clasped relationship within the space between the side walls of the sliding member 25. In this arrangement' of the several parts of the clasping device the bracelet is fitted approximately to the wrist of the wearer as is common to all extendible clasps of the present character.

It is however to be emphasized that the present invention provides for a further minute or careful fitting of the bracelet to the wearers wrist after the extendibie parts thereof are folded into closed position. To accomplish this result the slide 25 is moved 'longitudinally inwardly of the cover H until the ends of the strap or braceletsections have been drawn together sufficiently to effect a snug fit around the wrist. In sliding the member 25 within the cover I i the detents 35 ride upon the inner surface of the rack teeth removal of the bracelet from the wrist of the wearer or the separation of the extendible parts thereof. To lengthen the strap by means of the present improved adjusting device the finger-pieces H are grasped at each side of the clasp and pressed inwardly, thereby freeing the detents to permit the slide 2! to be slid outwardly.

While I have herein shown and described a preferred form of construction of the improved clasp it is to be understood that various modifications may be made in the structure and arrangement of its parts without departing from the spirit or scope of the invention. Therefore, without limiting myself in this respect, I claim:

1. In an extension buckle, a plurality of sections hinged together to fold one on the other, one of said sections comprising two relatively slidable members, interengaging means on said slidable members for holding said members in at least three different positions of longitudinal adjustment, and a finger-piece operatively connected to the interengaging means on one of the slidable members to release said means whereby adjustment of the members may be had, said finger-piece being positioned to be engaged when the sections are in folded relationship.

2. In an extension buckle, a plurality of sections hinged together to fold one on the other, one of said sections being formed of two relatively slidable members, rack teeth on one of said members, a latch on the other of said members engageable with said rack teeth for holding the members in different positions of adjustment,

. and a finger piece operatively connected to said latch to move the same with reference to said. rack teeth whereby adjustment of the members may be had, said finger piece being positioned to be engaged when the sections are in folded position.

3. In an extension buckle, a plurality of sections hinged together to fold one on the other, one of said sections formed of two relatively slidable members, one of said members being channel shape in cross-section with inwardly extending flanges, and having slots in the side walls of said member with rack teeth along the edges of said slots, the other member being slidably located beneath said flanges and provided with latches to engage said rack teeth for holding the members in different positions of adjustment.

4. In an extension buckle, a plurality of sections hinged together to fold one on another, one of said sections being formed of two relatively slidable members, spaced series of rack teeth on one of said members, latches on the other of said members engageable with said spaced series of rack teeth for holding the members in different positions of adjustment, and finger pieces provided on the member carrying said latches and projecting beyond said sections at all times by which the same may be operated to release the latches from said rack teeth.

5. In a device of the type specified, the combination of a rectangularly-shaped member having a bottom and side walls, extension members hinged to said first member and to each other to adapt them to be folded into nested relationship within its side walls, a rectangularly-shaped cover member having a top and side walls adapted to slidably fit said first member, rack teeth on the side walls of said cover member, detent means on the first member engageable with the teeth on the cover member to retain said members in different positions oi longitudinal adjustment, and means accessible exteriorly of the cover member for manually operating the detent means.

6. In a device of the type specified, the combie nation oi a rectangularly-shaped member having a bottom and side walls, extension members hinged to said first member and to each other to adapt them to be folded into nested relationship within the side walls of the first member, a rectangularly-shaped cover having a top and side walls adapted to slidably fit said first member, said side walls provided with rack teeth, and resilient means on the first member cooperating with the teeth in the side walls ofsaid cover to permit relative longitudinal adjustment between said member and the cover.

7. In a device of the type specified, the combination of a rectangularly-shaped member having a bottom and side walls, extension members hinged to said first member and to each other to adapt them to be folded into nestedrelation- "ship within the side walls of the first member,

a rectangularly-shaped cover having a top and side wallsadapted to slidably fit said first member, rack teeth in the side walls of said cover, detents carried by said first member for engaging the teeth on the cover, and means accessible exteriorly of the cover for disengaging said detents from the teeth.

8. In a device of the type specified, the combination of a cover member having a top and side walls, a slidable member of complemental form fitting within said cover member, the side walls of said cover member having longitudinal slots with rack teeth therein, extension members hingedly connected to the slidable member to adapt them to fold thereinto to slide within the cover member, resilient detents carried by the side walls of said slidable member for engaging with the rack teeth to relatively position said cover member and said slidable member, and manually operable means for releasing the detents from the teeth.

CHARLES H. KESTENMAN. 

